Agreed its hyperbolic. Some might be terrified. Depending on how the narrative shifts the dominant cognitive effect could go from terror to amazement or admiration. If so we might see second order effects like submission (if it shifts to admiration) or awe (if it moves toward amazement). I imagine its a good opportunity for a reboot for populist leaders of previous movements (tea party and occupy). But they will have to struggle for the same mindshare.
Yeah. I fail to see what is terrifying about this...?
In the modern age, everything inspires terror to journalists and Internet commenters.
Terrifying to my bank account currently
Why?
"terrifying new Occupy Wall Street" probably will get more clicks than "disturbing new method of market manipulation."
It's neither disturbing nor exactly new. The problem is more derivatives in general -- what Warren Buffet has long called "weapons of mass destruction" -- than the use of a forum.